FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Kiana Montgomery
Ki Takeaways Communications
PR@kitakeaways.com | 586.522.5114
New statewide organization will expand business resources, advocacy, workforce development, and economic opportunity for LGBTQ+ professionals, entrepreneurs, and allies across Michigan.
DETROIT, Mich. (July 9, 2026) — The Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce today announced its expansion to become the Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce, marking a new chapter in its mission to strengthen LGBTQ+ businesses, entrepreneurs, professionals, and allies throughout Michigan.
The statewide expansion reflects the Chamber’s continued growth and its commitment to ensuring LGBTQ+ professionals and business owners, regardless of where they live, have access to advocacy, education, corporate partnerships, leadership development, procurement opportunities, and the resources needed to build and scale successful businesses.
The announcement follows a year of significant momentum for the organization, including hosting the first-ever LGBTQ+ Reception during the Mackinac Policy Conference, expanding the Queer Equity Impact Program (QEIP), growing corporate partnerships, and increasing opportunities for LGBTQ+-owned businesses across Michigan.
“Our vision has always been bigger than a single region,” said Kevin Heard, President & Executive Director of the Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce. “Every LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, professional, and business owner deserves to know there is an organization advocating for them, connecting them to opportunity, and helping them grow. We’re not waiting for someone else to solve these challenges. We’re investing in Michigan by building stronger businesses, stronger leaders, and stronger communities. When our businesses succeed, our communities thrive.”
Over the past several years, the Chamber has grown into one of Michigan’s leading organizations focused on LGBTQ+ economic advancement. Today, the organization serves more than 200 members, has hosted more than 50 educational and networking events, graduated more than 40 entrepreneurs through its Queer Equity Impact Program, expanded Michigan’s certified LGBTQ+-owned supplier network from six businesses to more than 50, and developed strategic partnerships with more than 10 corporate partners, including Ford, Stellantis, Magna, and other organizations committed to supplier diversity, workforce development, and inclusive economic growth.
As the organization expands statewide, the Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce is making three commitments to LGBTQ+ professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners across Michigan.
Advocating for Michigan’s LGBTQ+ Business Community
The Chamber will continue strengthening relationships with state legislators, economic development organizations, municipalities, and corporate partners to ensure LGBTQ+ businesses have a seat at the table in conversations that shape Michigan’s economy.
Helping Businesses Grow and Scale
Through programs like the Queer Equity Impact Program, business education, mentorship, procurement opportunities, certification support, leadership development, access to capital, and supplier diversity initiatives, the Chamber will continue helping businesses move from startup to sustainable growth.
Building Community Across Michigan
The Chamber will launch a statewide listening tour, strengthen relationships with local Pride organizations and community leaders, recruit regional board leadership, expand educational webinars and virtual resources, and create new opportunities for entrepreneurs and professionals to connect throughout every region of Michigan.
“This expansion is about ensuring LGBTQ+ professionals and entrepreneurs, regardless of where they live in Michigan, know they have a place to turn for support, connection, and opportunity,” said Christina Ware, Board Vice-Chair of the Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce. “Throughout my career in workforce development and corporate strategy, I’ve seen firsthand how the right relationships, resources, and mentorship can transform businesses and careers. I’m excited to bring that experience, along with the relationships I’ve built across Michigan, to help our members grow, build meaningful partnerships, and access opportunities that allow them to scale. We also recognize the incredible organizations and leaders already serving communities throughout our state. Our goal is to partner with them, elevate their work, and bring additional resources, visibility, and statewide connections that strengthen the impact they’re already making.”
That member-first approach will guide the Chamber’s statewide expansion strategy as it works alongside local leaders, Pride organizations, businesses, and community partners to strengthen existing ecosystems rather than duplicate them.
“Our responsibility as a board is to think beyond today and build an organization that creates lasting opportunity,” said Dorian Grey, Board Chair of the Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce. “This expansion represents an investment in every community across Michigan. We want entrepreneurs, professionals, and allies to know they have a statewide partner committed to helping them succeed, strengthening local economies, and ensuring every region has access to meaningful business resources and leadership opportunities.”
According to the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, LGBTQ+-owned businesses contribute an estimated $1.7 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, with that impact increasing to more than $2.1 trillion when mid-sized LGBTQ+-owned businesses are included. As the Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce expands, it aims to connect even more entrepreneurs to the national LGBTQ+ business ecosystem through certification opportunities, corporate procurement pipelines, and strategic partnerships.
“Organizations that invest in entrepreneurs and small businesses invest in stronger communities,” said Oakland County Executive David Coulter. “Creating pathways for business growth, leadership development, and economic opportunity benefits not only LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs but the entire state of Michigan. This expansion reflects a shared commitment to building an economy where talent is welcomed, innovation is encouraged, and every community has the opportunity to prosper.”
The Chamber also plans to collaborate with local chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, municipalities, educational institutions, foundations, and corporate partners to ensure entrepreneurs throughout Michigan have greater access to mentorship, education, certification opportunities, procurement pathways, and capital.
“Strong businesses create stronger communities,” said Anthony Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Corktown Health. “When LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs have access to meaningful relationships, trusted resources, and opportunities to grow, the impact extends well beyond their individual businesses. It creates jobs, strengthens families, and builds healthier, more resilient communities. The Michigan Pride Chamber is helping build that foundation by fostering economic opportunity, empowering LGBTQ+ businesses, and strengthening communities across our state.”
Over the next several years, the Chamber plans to strategically expand across Southeast Michigan before growing into Lansing, Grand Rapids, Mid-Michigan, Northern Michigan, and eventually the Upper Peninsula through regional partnerships, listening sessions, educational programming, and community engagement.
As the Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce begins its statewide expansion, Chamber leadership emphasized that its goal is not to replace or replicate the incredible work already happening throughout Michigan’s LGBTQ+ communities, but to strengthen it.
The organization plans to partner with existing Pride organizations, LGBTQ+ centers, chambers of commerce, community leaders, and local advocates who have spent years building trust and creating opportunities within their own communities. Through statewide collaboration, shared resources, corporate partnerships, advocacy, and business development programming, the Chamber hopes to help local organizations expand their reach while ensuring entrepreneurs and professionals have greater access to opportunity regardless of where they live.
“We’re not arriving in communities believing we’re the first to do this work,” said Heard. “Across Michigan, there are remarkable leaders, advocates, Pride organizations, and community partners who have been showing up for years. Our role is to listen first, build relationships, and ask how we can help amplify what already exists. We want to bring additional resources, statewide advocacy, corporate connections, and business opportunities that help local leaders grow their own impact. If we’re successful, people won’t feel like something new was built for them, they’ll feel like the work they’ve been doing finally has another partner standing beside them.”
That collaborative philosophy will guide the Chamber’s statewide listening tour as it begins meeting with local organizations, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community stakeholders throughout Michigan over the coming months.
The Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce is inviting LGBTQ+ professionals, business owners, corporate partners, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, and allies from across Michigan to become part of this next chapter.
Whether someone is launching their first business, growing an established company, pursuing LGBTQ+ Business Enterprise certification through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, or looking to connect with a statewide network of leaders, the Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce aims to serve as a trusted partner throughout every stage of that journey.
Together, the Chamber believes Michigan can become a place where every LGBTQ+ entrepreneur and professional has the opportunity to build, grow, and thrive, because a stronger, more inclusive business community creates a stronger Michigan for everyone.
For more information, membership opportunities, or upcoming statewide events, visit: www.mipridechamber.com
About the Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce
The Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing economic opportunity for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, professionals, and allies through advocacy, business development, leadership programming, workforce initiatives, supplier diversity, education, and strategic partnerships. The organization connects members to local, statewide, and national opportunities while fostering a more inclusive and prosperous Michigan for all.
Media Contact
Kiana Montgomery
Founder, Ki Takeaways Communications
Public Relations Partner, Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce
PR@kitakeaways.com
586.522.5114
